Children’s Sermon

Isaiah 2:1-5

Making a Better World

Isaiah 2:1-5

Making a Better World

Did you ever wonder what the world would be like if everything was the way God wants it to be? Let’s try this: think of something that would make the world better? What if there were no bullies? Would that it better? [Let the children may briefly explain their their answers. You might ask the congregation for ideas. List out loud all their ideas and yours].

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah tells us some of God’s ideas for a better world. Because they’re God’s ideas they WILL happen. This is not God’s “Wish List”. This is God’s “It’s Gonna Happen List!” I’ll read part of God’s ideas—see if God mentions your idea:

Isaiah begins by saying that on some future day, God’s house will be on the tallest mountain of all. Listen to what happens then: “all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come…”all nations are going to come to God’s house, God’s temple. The whole world, every color and country of people, coming, walking together. Wow! That would be something to see!

Why will the nations come to God? The people walking up the mountain talk to each other. Listen: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD., …that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” On that day, says God, the world will come to listen to God and happily learn to do things God’s way. Everyone will be kind, fair and filled with God’s love! How about that for a better world?

Finally on God’s list is that God is going stop wars–– to get people to stop fighting! Those people, the ones fighting a war, will “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. They are going to make a big fire and throw all their weapons into it.

When metal gets hot in the fire, people can twist it and turn it into something else. Isaiah says they will turn their weapons of war into plows to dig up the ground so they can plant food and flowers. Other weapons will be made into the tools people use to take care of fruit trees.

Now listen to God’s idea one more time: Isaiah says, “…nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” No more wars ever. They won’t even think about war!! Would that make the world better? [Accept all answers]. That promise from God is chiseled into the doorway of the United Nations in New York City.

Jesus is the one coming to teach us God’s ways and to help us follow God. The world waited a long time for God’s special person. Now we celebrate the coming of the one who will teach us peace and show us how to have no more war!